With the opening of the vertical campus in 2001, which included a brand new gym for the team, the mascot of the school was rebranded one last time. In 2002, the Baruch Athletic Department polled over 300 students on whether the Statesman should remain the name of the school sports team, or a new one should be chosen. Among the options put forward were the Bearcats, the Dragons, the Bulls, and the Bobcats. The Bearcats carried the day by the slim margin of approximately ten votes over the Dragon mascot. One reason the mascot was picked was to “reflect an attitude of tenacity and success” (The Ticker, September 17, 2002, 16).

Today the Bearcat enjoys increasing popularity on campus, and is rapidly building its own history at the college.